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Design Commission Reviews Lovejoy Square (images)

An initial Design Review hearing has been held for Lovejoy Square, a proposed mixed use building in the Pearl by Bora Architects for developer Killian Pacific. The 10 story building would reach a height of 148′-6″ at top of parapet. At full build out the phased development would include approximately 16,000 sq ft of ground floor retail, 56,000 sq ft of office space on levels 2 to 4 and 186 residential units. Two levels of underground parking would provide 143 parking spaces. Long term parking for 318 bicycles is proposed.

The development would be located on the full block bound by NW Kearney St, 14th Ave, Lovejoy St and 13th Ave. The site includes two existing buildings, which would be demolished. The south building at 1325 NW Kearney St was built in 1937. The north building at 930 NW 14th was built in 1970. The buildings were converted to retail use in 2004/2005. Current tenants include the On Deck sports bar, Office Max and Title Nine. The Lovejoy Square complex was sold to Killian Pacific in 2016 for almost $20 million.

The project would be developed in two phases, with the southern half of the block developed first with the northern half potentially following later. The phased approach is in part due to the existing leases on the retail spaces, which expire later. The completed development would be massed as two east-west oriented bar towers, with a private courtyard in between them at the second level.

Exterior materials proposed for Lovejoy Square include glass fiber reinforced concrete, bronze toned aluminum windows and metal canopies. Ecoroofs are proposed at the top of each tower.

Lovejoy Square had its first design review hearing on October 19th, at which time a Staff Report and Recommendation to the Design Commission did not yet recommend approval. As summarized in a memo, outstanding design and technical concerns included: the proposed garage access from NW 14th Ave; the overall massing of the building, and the extent to which it is being driven by the phasing; the private nature of the level 2 courtyard; the use of exterior stairwells as an exit from a high-rise building; and the ground floor articulation on NW 13th and 14th Aves. The Commission however praised the simple grid pattern and materials used on the facade.

The project is currently scheduled to return in front of the Design Commission for a second hearing on December 21st.

This appears to be another case where an historic anomaly in the lot shape, on the NW corner, is being perpetuated, at cost to the project, and to the unit numbers, because it’s time-consuming to ask for a vacation. That angled corner is there because of access to the Lovejoy Ramp to the Broadway Bridge. There’s no need for it now. (The other recent one was a large radius at SE Ankeny and 3rd)

The Pearl District Neighborhood Association asked the development team to look into a street vacation, in order to address the issue you raise and to narrow NW 14th, which is unusually wide at that one block. It was discussed briefly at the first hearing, but given the length of time it takes to get a street vacation approved it may not be possible.

The Design Review response was that they couldn’t have an open exterior stair as a required exit from a high-rise. (See OSSC 403.5.4 for smoke proof exit stair enclosures in high-rises) Not sure how or if they revised it.